First Solo
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Tamworth, UK / Nairobi, Kenya
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I met a woman who was in her 70's who was doing her PPL because her husband, in his 80's could no longer get a medical to fly. Her only reason to learn to fly was so that she could sit in the right seat and be the pilot in command but let him fly the plane.
They owned two aeroplanes and loved to fly, had flown together most of their lives, but she had never learned to fly.
They owned two aeroplanes and loved to fly, had flown together most of their lives, but she had never learned to fly.
Nice job Aussie Bob. Out of interest, how many hours dual before his first solo?
Darkroomsource, I'll bet that she went solo in record time! 
In 1983 I was learning to fly Piper Warriors at Schofields Flying Club. (Then at the long lost Schofields AD). A highly experienced 83 Year old pilot owned a C152 that was based there. My instructor always encouraged his then four young students to take turns flying with him. He was very generous fellow. All he wanted to do was practice an hour of circuits each week. Us pre solo pilots were his safety pilots. Anyway, I soon found out that he was quite happy to fly for half a hour then hand over to me. And he had sufficient confidence to allow me do the whole flight including touch and go's. (I knew that this was a little bit naughty so I never told my instructor!) So I had a fair bit of free flying. And he knew that I'd always come along flying with him! And I was more than happy to do the hand pumping for him, from fuel drums, which was the norm then. Good times indeed!
In 1983 I was learning to fly Piper Warriors at Schofields Flying Club. (Then at the long lost Schofields AD). A highly experienced 83 Year old pilot owned a C152 that was based there. My instructor always encouraged his then four young students to take turns flying with him. He was very generous fellow. All he wanted to do was practice an hour of circuits each week. Us pre solo pilots were his safety pilots. Anyway, I soon found out that he was quite happy to fly for half a hour then hand over to me. And he had sufficient confidence to allow me do the whole flight including touch and go's. (I knew that this was a little bit naughty so I never told my instructor!) So I had a fair bit of free flying. And he knew that I'd always come along flying with him! And I was more than happy to do the hand pumping for him, from fuel drums, which was the norm then. Good times indeed!
Thread Starter
I notice Aussie Bob quietly side-stepped that question. But as most readers will suspect it probably took a lot of dual instruction (40 hours plus, maybe), then I bet you were relieved that he got down in one piece.
Now with part 61 I will be relieved when any pilot I trained gets home for the following 7 years after they get their licence! This risk will rise again when ATO's are no longer CAsA delegates
All this for a pay packet of peanuts ...
